counternormative

adjective

Contrary to what is normative; opposing or overthrowing norms.

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Meanings

adjectivecounternormative (comparative more counternormative, superlative most counternormative)

comparative more counternormative · superlative most counternormative

  1. Contrary to what is normative; opposing or overthrowing norms.

    People may experience two opposing motivations after receiving unexpected or counternormative favors: an obligation to reciprocate and psychological reactance.

    2004 September 28, Amani El-Alayli, Lawrence A Messé, “Reactions toward an unexpected or counternormative favor-giver: Does it matter if we think we can reciprocate?”, in Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, volume 40, number 5, →DOI, page 633

Origin

From counter- + normative.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

counternormative. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counternormative

MLA

“counternormative.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counternormative. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “counternormative,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/counternormative.

Source: counternormative on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.